Lasers

Lasers are devices that create concentrated beams of coherent light through stimulated emission. The word "laser" has come to encompass all matter of technologies: including laser weaponry, M-Line, LIDAR, and Console Scrolls. With a wide array of applications in manufacturing, commerce, weaponry, telecommunications, and infrastructure, Lasers redefine any civilization that develops them. The technology had been independently developed nearly a dozen times over across space and time.

M-Line

In line-of-sight ship-to-ship communication, M-Line technology relies on maser beams to convey information. Based on microwaves, maser beams are generally preferred due to low energy, high range, and ability to cut through atmospheres with little interference. An added benefit of using M-Line is information security as the narrow focus of the beam makes interception difficult. Since their invention, M-Lines have come to dominate space-based communication, but still have less range than a high-powered broadcast.

LIDAR

LIDAR, Light Detection and Ranging, is widely used in autonomous vehicles to map their environment. By measuring how long an infrared laser pulse takes to return, a vehicle can judge distances. Spacecraft rely on the technology to avoid collisions especially in space ports.

Laser Weaponry

A laser weapon consumes a tremendous amount of energy to fire laser beams across great distances. These beams are often hot enough to pierce a hole clean through organic lifeforms with ease. Specialized infantry units can carry the heavy batteries and cooling systems needed for laser weapons, but most are mounted on vehicles or space craft.

Laser weapons are powerful enough on their own, but in order to increase their combat prowess, many laser weapons come with special devices called amplifiers, or "amps". Amps are carefully cut crystals inserted into the space between the weapon's capacitors and the energy pack. The properties of the crystal will then amplify the power or alter the properties of the laser beam.

Due to their ease of manufacture and maintenance, laser weapons are the most common energy weapon in the universe. They are seen even amongst the most low-tech of planets, although little can beat ballistic weapons in terms of cost.

Laser Rifle

Laser rifles are the most common type of laser weapon in the universe. Heavy weapons specialists wield these devices to great effect, especially in vacuum. While they have a slower rate of fire than their ballistic counterparts, they are often much better at penetrating most forms of body armor.

Laser Carbine

Laser carbines are essentially just shortened laser rifles with lighter bodies and smaller energy packs. They are usually used by scouts and other specialist troops, who value the laser carbine's low weight as their duties require them to travel lightly. Most Laser Carbines are disposable as firing them too quickly inevitably melt its components.

Laser Pistol

The humble laser pistol is a mostly ornamental weapon used for small-game hunting. Oftentimes, the highest-ranking officers will carry ornate laser pistols as a status symbol, which tend to be as powerful as they are beautiful.

Multi-Blaster

The multi-blaster is a six-barreled laser weapon that fires a hail of laser beams at anything caught in its path. Due to the multi-blaster's energy demand, anyone wanting to use one will have to carry a large energy pack attached to their back, which tends to weigh them down considerably. They were a somewhat common augment on Veldlopers, a class of power armor that could handle the heavy batteries these needed. Some species are actually large enough to carry these directly, such as the Kalar.

Laser Cannon

Laser cannons make up half of the compliment of Point Defense Weaponry. Used as anti-air weapons on the ground and on ships to fend off torpedoes or space debris. Large ships like Battleships and Corvettes have about as many laser cannons as they do ballistic cannons, while smaller ships generally prefer to employ mostly ballistic weapons.

Notable Users of Laser Weapons

TBA

Use Console Scrolls

Console Scrolls have a small projector in them that creates tens of thousands of microscopic laser beams per second. Through precise control of interference, the device can control where the lasers impact the micrometer thin coating on the surface. Most graphics made this way are monochrome, but more expensive console scrolls have full reign over the RGB color space, with some wealthy tetrachromatic individuals adding in ultraviolet beams.